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COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M hasn’t football played in Austin in eight years.

The Aggies haven’t met the Longhorns in football since 2011, the season before they left for the Southeastern Conference.

But fans in Austin still are watching A&M, whether it’s out of love or hate.

The Aggies came within a two-point play of possibly knocking off No. 2 Clemson at Kyle Field last Saturday night. It was the second-highest rated ESPN prime-time telecast in two years. The game drew a rating of 3.0, but it peaked at 4 during the window between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m.

Here’s where Austin comes in. The city’s rating for the A&M game, which was head-to-head most of the evening with Texas-Tulsa played at Royal-Memorial Stadium, was a 7.0. That was the fourth-highest nationally, but tops in Texas.

ESPN’s top 10 markets for the game:

1

16.0

Birmingham

2

15.9

Greenville-Sprtnburg-Ash

3

7.5

Charlotte

4

7.0

Austin

5

6.6

Atlanta

6

6.5

Dallas-Ft. Worth

7

6.4

San Antonio

8

6.2

Houston

9

6.1

Greensboro-High Point

10

5.9

Norfolk-Portsmth-N. Nws

ESPN broadcast College Football GameDay preview show from outside Kyle Field Saturday morning. The network said it’s rating was up 17 percent from week two last season, when the show was in Columbus before Oklahoma-Ohio State.

.@CollegeGameDay live from College Station averaged a 1.4 across ESPN and ESPNU, up +17% from 2017’s Week 2 show surrounding Oklahoma-Ohio State

A&M plays at home Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe. But they’ll get a chance to play in front of a national audience, Sept. 22, when they travel to top-ranked Alabama. CBS announced Monday it had picked up the game for its 2:30 p.m. window.

Oklahoma looked in perfect form Saturday afternoon in Norman, blasting UCLA 49-21, but might have lost star tailback Rodney Anderson.

Kansas broke it’s nine-year road win drought with a victory over Central Michigan. Before Saturday, the Jayhawks defined woeful on the road, losing 46 straight games. That was an FBS record Kansas was happy to shed.

Baylor already has doubled its win total from a year ago, bumping its record to 2-0 with a road victory at Texas-San Antonio.

West Virginia and quarterback Will Grier continued to roll.

Oklahoma State had no problems handing South Alabama. And Texas Tech tried to forget its season-opening loss to Mississippi with a 77-0 thrashing of Lamar.

In Norman, OU tailback Rodney Anderson left the field at the end of the first quarter with a knee injury. He was checked out in the locker room, then returned to the sidelines wearing street clothes.

Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said he didn’t know much about the extent of Anderson’s injury. Anderson missed most of the 2015 and 16 seasons because of injuries to his neck and leg, but he was a key to last season, which reached the national semifinals. Anderson gained 1,161 yards last year.

With Anderson sidelined, quarterback Kyler Murray still was able to dazzle. He played a part in five touchdowns, throwing for three and rushing for two.

Murray passed for 306 yards and led OU’s rushing attack with 69 yards.

The OU defense handled the Bruins, who were starting true freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The Sooners sacked him six times.

The Jayhawks enjoyed an easy win over Central Michigan, 31-7. Their last road win was in November, 2009, when KU knocked off Texas-El Paso.

The Lawrence police department enjoyed the fun of a road win, reminding fans how to celebrate with some cheeky tweets.

Alright folks, it’s been a while since KU won a road game, so let’s refresh everyone’s memory on how it works. Essentially if KU wins on the road, everyone celebrates by not breaking the law in any way. Let’s keep the tradition alive!

This is awesome. In celebration of KU’s first road win since the early days of the Obama administration, and everyone not breaking the law tonight, we’re scheduling an #LKPDTweetalong for Sept. 28th. Join us won’t you?

Kansas tailback Pooka Williams was the offensive star, rushing for 125 yards a pair of touchdowns.

Baylor’s Charlie Brewer, who injured his back a week ago, was sharp against the Roadrunners, throwing for 328 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears’ 37-20 win. Overall, he was 23 of 34. A year ago, Baylor lost to UTSA in Waco, 17-10.

‘We found a way to be 2-0,” said Baylor coach Rhule. ”Certainly not perfect. Certainly not where we need to be.”

Grier threw four touchdown passes in WVU’s 52-17 win over Youngstown State. Three of the scores were thrown to Gary Jennings. Grier, a top candidate for the Heisman, has tossed nine touchdown passes in two games.

In Lubbock, Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman, who was making his first-ever start, completed 22 of his 25 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Jet Duffey was the leading rusher with six carries for 81 yards.

The Red Raiders scored seven rushing touchdowns, the most in a game since 1950.

TCU and Texas added to the Big 12 win totals. The Horned Frogs knocked off SMU Friday night. And the Longhorns held on for a 28-21 home victory over Tulsa.

Iowa State lost to in-state rival, Iowa, 13-3. The game was tied at 3-3 at halftime. It was 6-3 with just under five minutes to play when the Hawkeyes extended the lead with a two-yard touchdown.

Iowa handled Cyclones star David Montgomery, who rushed for only 44 yards on 17 carries.

Kansas State was mashed by Mississippi State, 31-7. The Bulldogs did so by relying mostly on the run. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald rushed for 159 yards on 19 carries and he threw for a pair of touchdowns. Running back Kylin Hill ran for 211 yards.

Big 12 basketball fans will have to wait until 2019 for the start of conference play.

In recent years the league opener has been before New Year’s Day. This season it begins Wednesday, Jan. 2, with a four-game lineup that features Texas Tech at West Virginia and Oklahoma at Kansas. The Red Raiders reached the Elite Eight last season and the Mountaineers the Sweet 16.

Baylor and TCU, the only two teams who don’t start Big 12 play on Jan. 2, meet Saturday, Jan. 5, in Fort Worth. West Virginia at Texas is a featured game that first Saturday of the new year, along with Bedlam, chapter one, Oklahoma State at Oklahoma.

The double round-robin format will wrap up Saturday, March 9, leading into the Big 12 tournament March 13-16 in Kansas City.

To no one’s surprise, West Virginia quarterback Will Grier was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for his opening aerial show against Tennessee.

Oklahoma weakside linebacker Curtis Bolton earned the Defensive Player of the Week award.

Other winners: Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard and TCU’s Derius Davis shared co-Newcomer of the Week, and Kansas State’s Isaiah Zuber picked up Special Teams Player of the Week.

Grier was sensational in launching his Heisman Trophy campaign. He completed 25 passes for 429 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ 40-14 stomping of the Vols. On Sunday, Grier was named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week.

Bolton, a redshirt senior making his first career start, registered a career-best six tackles and scored his first touchdown with a recovered blocked punt in the Sooners’ 63-14 annihilation of Florida Atlantic.

Davis, a Horned Frogs’ freshman from Louisiana, made his collegiate debut a memorable one, accumulating 129 all-purpose yards and two TDs in TCU’s 55-7 destruction of Southern.

Hubbard, a Cowvoys’ redshirt freshman, piled up 149 all-purpose yards and six points on 11 touches in OSU’s 58-17 wipeout of Missouri State.

Zuber rescued the Wildcats from what would have been an embarrassing loss to South Dakota. The quick receiver scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including an 85-yard punt return, to rally K-State to a 27-24 win.

The top three teams in the conference preseason poll — Oklahoma, West Virginia and TCU — shined and looked in midseason form.

To recap the openers:

THE GOOD

Oklahoma 63, Florida Atlantic 14: Before you say anything about the opponent, know that Lane Kiffin’s Owls won 11 games last year and are expected to be one of the best teams in the Group of Five leagues. Considering that, the Sooners were terrific in every aspect. Kyler Murray’s debut was a success: 9 of 11 passing for 209 yards with 2 TDs and 0 picks. Rodney Anderson ran 5 times for 100 yards. Marquise Brown caught 6 passes for 133 yards. The Sooners didn’t waste any time throttling FAU, romping to a 28-0 first-quarter lead that became 42-0 at the half. Oklahoma showed impeccable balance in gaining 650 yards with 316 rushing and 334 passing. Next: vs. UCLA (0-1), Saturday, noon (FOX).

West Virginia 40, Tennessee 14: Will Grier launched his Heisman campaign with a premier performance. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 429 yards with 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Two of his targets enjoyed 100-yard games: David Sills (7 for 140) and Gary Jennings (6 for 113). The weather-delayed, neutral-site game in Charlotte, N.C., was close until the Mountaineers scored three TDs in the third quarter for a 33-14 advantage. Another encouraging sign for WVU: The oft-maligned defense held up well, allowing just 129 yards rushing and 301 total. The only caveat: The SEC Volunteers are in rebuilding mode under a new coach. Next: vs. Youngstown State (0-1), Saturday, 5 p.m.

TCU 55, Southern 7: One cannot draw many conclusions from a blowout of an FCS cupcake. But better to crush the cupcake rather than nibble away at it. The Horned Frogs raced to a 17-0 first-quarter lead and were up 38-7 at the half. The reserves played most of the second half (11 guys carried the ball). New starting QB Shawn Robinson was efficient, completing 17 of 24 for 182 yards with 3 TDs and no picks. The Frogs outgained the Jaguars 499-155, won first downs 30-9 and were +3 in turnover margin. Next: at SMU (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m. (ESPN2).

Oklahoma State 58, Missouri State 17: The numbers looked good Thursday night. New QB Taylor Cornelius completed 24 of 34 passes for 295 yards with 5 TDs and 1 INT, yet Coach Mike Gundy wasn’t overwhelmed. “He was very average,” Gundy said of the senior making his starting debut. The best sign for the Cowboys was having two 100-yard rushers and averaging eight yards a pop. Next: vs. South Alabama (0-1), Saturday, 7 p.m.

Baylor 55, Abilene Christian 27: Not a lot to brag about here against an FCS creampuff, but it’s a step forward for the Bears, who lost their opener at home to Liberty a year ago and are trying to rebuild from 1-11. Former Lake Travis QB Charlie Brewer hurt his back (extent unknown), but graduate transfer Jalan McClendon from North Carolina State was 10 of 13 for 172 yards and 2 scores. Better yet, Baylor had two 100-yard rushers: John Lovett (12 for 115) and JaMycal Hasty (10 for 102) and amassed 606 yards total offense. The defense still looks shaky and was torched by ex-Rouse High RB Billy McCrary (6 for 141). Next: at UTSA (0-1), Saturday, 6 p.m.

THE BAD

Kansas State 27, South Dakota 24: Yeah, the Wildcats survived — barely — but they were a hot mess. The Cats made four turnovers, and their defense did not produce a single turnover. The Coyotes, predicted to finish in the lower half of the I-AA Missouri Valley Conference, took a 24-12 lead into the fourth quarter. Isaiah Zuber saved K-State’s bacon with an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown to close the gap, then a game-winning 10-yard TD catch from Skylar Thompson with 7:21 to play. Other than the Cats’ huge edge in rushing yardage (256 to 77), the stats were way too close for K-State fans’ comfort. Next Saturday could be big trouble. Next: vs. 18-Mississippi State (1-0), Saturday, 11 a.m. (ESPN)

Iowa State vs. South Dakota State, canceled: Listing this one under The Bad because the Cyclones lost the opportunity to notch a win toward getting to 6-6. And now they’ll have to face a rival Iowa team that already has a game under its belt. Heavy thunderstorms knocked this one out after just four minutes of play, and there are no plans to make it up. Kyle Kempt had fired a 55-yard TD pass to put the Clones up. Iowa State did not want to play Monday and lose a day of preparation for the Iowa game. The Jackrabbits will still receive their $425,000 guarantee, according to the Argus Leader, because the game did start. Next: at Iowa (1-0), Saturday, 4 p.m. (FOX)

THE UGLY

Maryland 34, Texas 29: Tom Herman repeatedly said throughout summer camp that he’d never felt better about one of his teams. Talk about misreading the situation. The Longhorns looked downright awful out of the gate — just like a year ago in a mind-blowing loss to the Terps. Maryland is expected to be one of the worst teams in the Big Ten. The stats were closer this time, almost identical, actually. Well, all but ONE stat. Turnovers. The Longhorns made three — all Sam Ehlinger interceptions. The Terps made none. You’ll lose almost every time going minus-3 in turnover margin. Next: vs. Tulsa (1-0), Saturday, 7 p.m. (LHN)

Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 27: Kliff Kingsbury’s hot seat just got a little warmer. The New Braunfels High alum was saved by a late-season win at Texas last year. This 20-point loss puts him back in the eye of the storm. Yes, the Rebels are an SEC team, but they are projected as a 7-5 team. The Red Raiders were supposed to get a lift from an improved defense. It did not show up. At all. Ole Miss scored immediately on a 58-yard pass play that undressed Tech’s secondary and rolled up 556 yards in the neutral-site game at NRG Stadium in Houston. McLane Carter, Tech’s new starting QB, suffered an early ankle injury and gave way to freshman Alan Bowman, who played credibly. Bowman completed 29 of 49 for 273 yards with 1 TD and no INTs. But the Raider defense couldn’t stop the Rebels’ Scottie Phillips from running for 204 yards on 16 carries. Next: vs. Lamar (1-0), Saturday, 3 p.m.

Nicholls 26, Kansas 23 (OT): How horrific was this loss? Las Vegas just changed the odds to make Beaty the 4-to-1 favorite to be the first college football coach fired this fall. (Kingsbury is the sixth choice at 10-1). Truth is, the Colonels out of the I-AA Southland Conference owned the lines of scrimmage and pushed the Jayhawks around. The rushing totals show it: Nicholls ran 50 times for 187 yards and 3 TDs; Kansas ran 32 times for a puny 56 yards, a 1.8 average. Quite frankly, the better team won. Next: at Central Michigan (0-1), Saturday, 2 p.m.

It will be interesting to see if the AP media poll also takes a leap of faith with the Longhorns. Look for AP to have Oklahoma State, based on success in recent years. The Cowboys had enough points to be 28th in our poll.

The season starts with several low-level games Saturday, followed by a full slate on the long Labor Day weekend.

Former Baylor coach Art Briles. who has been out of the business since he was fired by the school in 2016, has landed a new gig.

He’ll be coaching football in Florence, Italy. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Briles reached an agreement with the team this week.

“I’m a football coach and it’s all I’ve ever done and all I’ve ever really had a passion to do; this gives me a chance to be on the field and between the lines,” Briles told the Star-Telegram. “(This is) a situation where I can build a team over there and it’s inspiring to me. … It’s a situation where I can stay active this fall as a coach and as a person be involved in the game. Who knows what the future holds? It’s a golden opportunity for me to get on the field and be involved. I’m jacked about it.”

The team announced Briles’ hiring. Thursday.

His job starts in October. The season for the 12-team league starts in March. Teams play American football and follows NCAA rules. Briles will coach Guelfi Firenze.

“We are thrilled that Coach Briles has accepted our offer and will be our head coach for the 2019 season,” team general manager Edoardo Cammi said in a statement. “We are all excited about the opportunity of having a professional of his stature as our coach and we can’t wait to welcome him on our Guelfi Family starting from the offseason.”

There never was a question about Briles’ talent at offensive innovation. But his name has been toxic for employers since Baylor fired him after a law firm hired by the school found that Briles and his football team thought themselves above allegations of sexual assault made against the players.

Briles was forced to give up a job in the Canadian Football League he’d just taken because of the public backlash after he’d been hired.

The 62-year-old Briles has served as a consultant for NFL teams since he was terminated.

Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley received a big salary boost Tuesday to reward the young coach for such a successful debut season in Norman.

Riley now will make $4.8 million. When he replaced Bob Stoops last summer, Riley received an annual salary worth $3.1 million. But winning the Big 12, reaching the national semifinals and producing the Heisman winner and No. 1 player in the NFL draft certainly deserves a big bump.

“We recognize where a program wants to be, where it needs to be, the importance of continuity that, all of our staff, most notably our head coaches, and we try to do as much as we can to be as competitive as we can with the marketplace,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione told reporters after the school’s regents approved the new contract.

Riley still is only the fourth-highest paid coach in the Big 12.

Texas’ Tom Herman is believed to be No. 1 at $5.5 million. TCU’s Gary Patterson made $5.1 million in 2017, according to USA Today’s salary database. (Private schools don’t have to reveal contract details, but wages are found in the school’s tax returns). But Patterson told the American-Statesman that USA Today’s numbers usually are two to three years old.

Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy makes $5 million.

According to Diehards.com, the rest of the assistants also received nice raises:

Mike Stoops, defensive coordinator

2018 salary: $950,000
Raise from 2017: $30,000
Years on contract: 2

Bill Bedenbaugh, offensive line/co-offensive coordinator

2018 salary: $625,000
Raise from 2017: $90,000
Years on contract: 2

Ruffin McNeill, defensive tackles coach/assistant head coach

2018 salary: $570,000
Raise from 2017: $10,000
Years on contract: 2

Kerry Cooks, defensive backs /assistant defensive coordinator

2018 salary: $500,000
Raise from 2017: $25,000
Years on contract: 2

Cale Gundy, inside receivers/Recruiting coordinator

2018 salary: $500,000
Raise from 2017: $70,000
Years on contract: 2

Shane Beamer, tight ends/assistant head coach offense

2018 salary: $435,000
Raise from 2017: first year on the staff
Years on contract: 2